Carrying a handgun in vehicle/trunk

[thebluemax]

I have a few questions about carrying a gun in a vehicle. The situation is as follows: I will be getting married in a few weeks(outside my home state of Texas) in Las Vegas, will be driving there and on to California on my honeymoon. During this trip I will be in the state of New Mexico, Arizona, and California. I'm not really trying to take every gun I own but would like to carry one just in case something happens. But if one of these states has a law against carrying a handgun in a vehicle , I would rather not just in the event I get stopped by a LEO. The handgun will either be in the trunk or in a duffle in the passenger compartment.

Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated by me and my soon to be wife....

Thank you

 

[mrnkc130]

someone more knowledgeable im sure will respond, but i believe federal law says you can transport it locked in your trunk and drive through any state enroute to you destination, as long as the gun is legal in your final destination. So if it is legal in cali then you should be able to transport it there. I dont know california laws though so hopefully someone else will be more helpful.

 

[Art Eatman]

I've been too lazy to look, but doesn't the NRA's website have a listing of the laws of the various states re transporting and carrying?

 

[DeepSouth]

They do indeed.


http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/Federal/Read.aspx?id=59

 

[ArmedLiberal]

In California your handgun must be in a "locked container" while carried in an automobile. This specifically does NOT include the glove box or the console in the interior of the car but DOES include a locked trunk. There are no specifics as to what a "locked container" is, but there is wide agreement that any hard case with a padlock will do.

An unlocked duffle bag in the interior of the car will not satisfy the requirement, but the duffle in a locked car trunk will.

Happy Trails

 

[bushmaster1313]

Do not cruise around with a handguin in your trunk in New Jersey unless you are just passing through.

I would check carefully about California

 

[ArmedLiberal]

Here's a good place to start checking carefully about California.

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/Cfl2007.pdf

• The transportation or carrying of any pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being
concealed upon the person by any citizen of the United States over the age of 18 years
who resides or is temporarily within this state, and is not within the excepted classes
prescribed by Penal Code Sections 12021 or 12021.1 or Welfare and Institutions Code sections
8100 or 8103, provided that the following applies:
- the firearm is within a motor vehicle and it is locked in the vehicle's trunk or in a locked container
in the vehicle other than the utility or glove compartment, and;
- when the firearm is carried by the person to or from any motor vehicle for any lawful purpose, the
firearm must be contained in a locked container while being physically carried. (Penal Code §
12026.1.)

Another great resource for California Gun Law:

http://gunwiki.net/Gunwiki/LegalCalifornia

 

[Quiet]

AZ honors TX CCW permits.
So, if you have a TX CCW permit, you can legally conceal carry while in AZ.
The new AZ CCW law does not go into effect until 07-29-2010.
Open carry is also legal in AZ.
-Loaded handgun in dufflebag in car with TX CCW permit = good to go
-Unloaded handgun in locked dufflebag in passenger area of vehicle = good to go


NV does not honor TX CCW permits.
NV does allow a person to have a loaded handgun in their vehicle as long as it is not conceal upon their person. Handgun in a bag is considered "upon their person".
Open carry is also legal in NV.
-Loaded handgun in glove/utility compartment of vehicle = good to go
-Loaded handgun in dufflebag in car = no go
-Unloaded handgun in locked dufflebag in passenger area of vehicle = good to go


CA does not honor TX CCW permits.
CA does not allow the transport of loaded firearms or the possession of loaded firearms in public places (there are exemptions, but you will most likely not qualify for them).
-Loaded or unloaded handgun in glove/utility compartment of vehicle = no go
-Unloaded handgun in locked dufflebag in passenger area of vehicle = good to go

 

[MisterMike]

This is also a good resource with maps that illustrate reciprocity, etc.: http://www.handgunlaw.us/